Page 205 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

(d) Feed resources and land use: Find out whether quality and adequate animal
feeds are available within a given area sustainably. This will help in preparing a
feed budget for the whole year and make necessary arrangements for outsourcing
ahead of time.
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(e) Prevalence of diseases and parasites: Learn about common diseases
and parasites in the area. This helps to prepare proper health plans, including
vaccination and parasite control. Areas with heavy infestations of parasites or
diseases should be avoided.

(f) Market availability: Make sure you identify the market for your produce
before engaging in the actual production. Check on the product demand to
identify which goods are needed, conditions or standards required and market
accessibility to ensure that products reach buyers in good condition and fetch a
good price.

Physical arrangements for the farm enterprise
Physical planning involves making necessary arrangements for tools, materials
(including feed and vaccine), parent stock and farm structures. A proper plan
for these ensures building proper shelters, choosing the right breed, selecting a
suitable rearing system and providing a good animal management regime in terms
of feeding and disease control. All these help animals grow well and produce
quality meat and ensure enterprise profitability and sustainability.

Financial planning
Financial planning is about elaborating ways to manage the money of the
enterprise. It involves estimating the amount and identifying the source of finance
needed for running the farm. There are two main types of costs involved, fixed
and variable costs.

(a) Fixed costs: A proper plan for these ensures building proper shelters, choosing
the right breed, selecting a suitable rearing system and providing a good animal
management regime in terms of feeding and disease control. All these help
animals grow well and produce quality meat, and ensure enterprise profitability
and sustainability.

(b) Variable costs: These costs change depending on the number of animals and
production levels. They include the cost of buying feeds, paying casual workers,
veterinary services, electricity, water and levies/taxes.
It is also important to estimate the income expected from selling live animals or

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